How much juice can you get from a single lemon?

Curious about the juice yield of a lemon? You're in the right place to find out.

How much lemon juice comes from a single lemon?

A typical medium lemon yields about 2-3 tablespoons of juice. To be on the safe side, we estimate that one lemon provides roughly 2 tablespoons. So, if a recipe requires 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, you'll need about half a lemon.

Lemons vary in size, but unless the recipe specifies, it likely refers to a medium-sized lemon.

½ a lemon = 1 tablespoon of juice

How to Extract Lemon Juice

Before juicing, try rolling the lemon on a counter or cutting board with light pressure for a few seconds. This will loosen the fruit and make squeezing much easier.

Here are three methods for juicing a lemon:

Using a Juice Press

1. Slice the lemon in half.
2. Place one half, cut-side up, into the press and squeeze over a bowl until all the juice is extracted.
3. Repeat with the other half of the lemon.

Using a Citrus Reamer

While a citrus reamer may require a bit more effort than a juice press, it still gets the job done effectively:

1. Slice the lemon in half.
2. Hold the lemon over a bowl, press the reamer into the cut side, and twist until the juice is fully extracted.

Squeezing by Hand

If you don't have a juicer, you can still squeeze lemons by hand with a little more effort:

1. Peel the lemon first.
2. With clean hands, squeeze the lemon over a bowl, applying as much pressure as possible. Continue squeezing until no juice remains.

Alternatively, slice the lemon in half and squeeze each half, ideally over a fine mesh strainer to catch any seeds.

What About Zest?

Lemon zest is the thin outer layer of the lemon peel. It’s used in cooking because its concentrated oils deliver a stronger, more aromatic flavor than the juice alone.

A typical medium lemon yields about one tablespoon of zest.

If your recipe calls for the zest of one lemon, measure out one tablespoon of zest.

1 lemon = 1 tablespoon of zest

How to Zest a Lemon

There are plenty of ways to zest a lemon, and you likely already have the right tools in your kitchen.

Using a Grater

The simplest method uses a grater—whether a box grater (the type used for cheese) or a microplane will work just fine.

1. Place the lemon on a cutting board and gently drag it downward along the grater.
2. Repeat in the same spot until the white pith underneath the zest is visible.
3. Continue zesting all around the lemon.

Using a Knife

If you don't have a grater, a knife can do the trick. This method is particularly useful if you're zesting for cocktail garnishes.

1. Grip the lemon firmly in your dominant hand.
2. With a sharp chef's knife, carefully slice the yellow peel into strips, starting from the bottom of the fruit and working upward.
3. Once the entire lemon is peeled, finely chop the zest and you're ready to use it.